Tubular firearm

ABSTRACT

A tubular firearm having a concentric bolt, barrel, main spring, receiver, recoil weight and cartridge carrier. The carrier houses a plurality of cartridges in a series of circumferentially spaced tubes, the carrier being rotatable to successively fire all the cartridges from consecutive tubes.

Heinicke Sept. 4, 1973 [54] TUBULAR FIREARM 3,050,892 8/1962 Vogler etal. 1. 42/59 2,512,998 6 1950 B k 1 42 1 R 1 Inventor! Humcke, 3,088,3785/1963 BLTIZIGNL... 42/1 R Cheyenne St., Golden, C010. 80401 22 F l d 241970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 June 370,091 1/1907 France 4217 [21] Appl. No.: 49,366 552,440 5/1923 France 42/17 52 us. c1 42/17,42/1 R, 89/196 "%i Bmchelt 1511 1111.131. F411: 13/00, F4lc 9/00, F41d1/02 [58] Field of Search 42/1 G, 1 H, 1 J,

1 1 ABSTRACT 156] Referenm C'ted A tubular firearm having a concentricbolt, barrel, UNITED TATE PATENTS main spring, receiver, recoil weightand cartridge car- 2,718,818 9/1955 Cu ini et al. 89/19 rier. Thecarrier houses a plurality of cartridges in a se- 2,898,693 8/1959 Ruger89/196 ries of circumferentially spaced tubes, the carrier being2,495,423 l/l950 SimOHSOH 1 2/ rotatable to successively fire all thecartridges from 2,843,960 7/1958 Larsson 42/70 R consecutive b 473,3704/1892 ThOrp 42/17 2,436,175 2/1948 Neal 1 42/16 10 Claims, 17 DrawingFigum Pmmiiew 4% 3,755,948

sum 1 Q? Q INVENTOR JOACHIM H. HEINICKE ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED SE? 4 F973 SYMQ J m 4% A/ A 1 A ll:

INVENTOR &

JOACHIM H HEINICKE a r v PM? x a 8 W ATTORNEY'.

PATENTEDSEP 4 ms SHEEI 3 (IF 4 INVENTOR JOACHIM H. HEINICKE ATTORNEYS.

minnow 4:915 $755348 SHEEF s 0F Q f INVENTOR JOAQHIM H. HEINICKEATTORNEY-5'.

TUBULAR FIREARM This invention relates generally to firearms, and moreparticularly to a tubular or rod-shaped, hand held, blow-back operated,mechanical feeding, fully automatic firearm.

The firearm of this invention is generally cylindrical in shape with noprojections which facilitates its concealment in tubular housings suchas flashlight cases or other tubular carrying cases. To this end, theinvention is particularly useful to law enforcement officials insituations wherein concealment of a firearm is desirable to preventalarming the general public or wherein secrecy is otherwise necessitatedby the particular circumstances.

The firearm includes a novel concentric arrangement of parts whichfacilitates its outer tubular design. Specifically, it includes aconcentric bolt, barrel, main spring, recoil weight and cartridgecarrier. The cartridge carrier houses a plurality of cartridges, thespecific number depending upon the caliber of the cartridges and thenumber of cartridge-carrying tubes circumferentially spaced about thecarrier. In a preferred embodiment of a .22 caliber model describedherein, the carrier carries 24 cartridges in eight tubes of threecartridges each. It is stressed, however, that this is merely apreferred embodiment and that other carriers may reasonably includeanywhere from five to eight tubes with as many as 30 or more cartridgesinclusive.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a firearmhaving a particular arrangement of parts which facilitate a generallytubular outer design.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide afirearm including a concentric bolt, barrel, main spring, recoil weightand cartridge carrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a firearm including abarrel, receiver and bolt assembly, and wherein the bolt assemblyincludes a main spring and recoil weight which overlay the barrelforwardly of the receiver.

A further object of this invention is to provide a firearm having arotatable cartridge carrier, the carrier defining a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced axially extending tubes or channels eachadapted to receive a plurality of aligned cartridges, and carrierrotating means engaging the carrier to rotate the same after each of thechannels is emptied of cartridges to shift an adjacent channel inposition from whence its cartridges may be fired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a firearm includinga bolt having a plurality of cartridge engaging means dependingtherefrom, and wherein reciprocating movements of the bolt due to firingof the firearm causes the cartridge engaging means to successively feeda plurality of axially aligned cartridges forward into firing position.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claimed subjectmatter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the firearm of this inventionillustrating its generally tubular or rod-shaped design;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front assemblyillustrating the cocking tube which is grasped and pulled back by theoperator to cook the firearm;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main body tube of the firearmillustrating the radial opening therein whereby access may be had to thefiring button and safety;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the barrel and forward portionof the bolt assembly, including the recoil weight and main spring, whichoverlay the barrel and are slidable thereon;

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1depicting the bolt in its extreme rearward position and a cartridge inan in-between position between the carrier and receiver;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5showing the various openings through the receiver;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary axial sectional view taken along line 8--8 ofFIG. 6 illustrating details of the firing button;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary axial sectional views illustrating therespective sequential movement of the bolt from its forwardmost orfiring position in FIG. 9 to a point in its rearward travel in FIG. 10where it ejects an expended cartridge case;

FIG. 1 I is a transverse sectional view taken along line 1 111 of FIG. 9showing cartridges positioned in eight axially extendingcircumferentially spaced rows around.

the carrier, and the feeler device which contacts a cartridge andprevents the carrier from rotating;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the receiver assembly including thetail tube which extends rearwardly therefrom;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bolt and illustrates threecartridge-engaging hooks depending therefrom;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cover plate which carries thefollower and is intended to overlie the underside of the receiver;

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the carrier assembly andillustrates the sawtooth blades and 0- rings by means of which thecartridges are resiliently secured in the carrier;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the back plug which provides torque torotate the carrier; and

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 17l7 of FIG. 15and illustrates the eight channels or tubes in the carrier and the slotsthrough which the sawtooth blades engage the cartridges.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 thefirearm of this invention which is referred to generally by the numeral20. As is readily apparent, the firearm 20 has a generally tubular orrodshaped design.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the firearm 20 consists offive main sections; a front assembly 21, a bolt assembly 22, a receiverassembly 23, a carrier assembly 24 and a back plug assembly 25.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT ASSEMBLY The front assembly 21 includes a nosepiece 26 having a threaded hole 27 extending axially therethrough bymeans of which it is attached to a complementary threaded end 28 of abarrel 29. The nose piece 26 further includes a detent 30 biasedoutwardly in a radial hole 31 by a spring 32. The detent 30 is adaptedto snap into a hole 33 in a guide tube 34 when the firearm is fullyassembled as seen in FIG. 5. The detent extends through hole 33 toengage a hole 33a in the cocking tube 38, and serves to hold the cockingtube 38 in its forward position after the cocking function has beencompleted.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the guide tube 34 includesan axially extending guide slot 35 hav ing a recessed portion 36 at itsinner extremity. The guide slot 35 is adapted to slidingly receive a lug37 carried on the inner surface of a cocking tube 38. The cocking tube38 fits over the guide tube 34 and is slidable thereon to cock thefirearm 20 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The guide tube 34further includes internal threads 39 at its end opposite the guide slot35 whereby it is attached to the receiver assembly 23.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the barrel 29 includes an externallythreaded enlarged end portion 40 having an annular shoulder 41 at oneside and an arcuate slot 42 formed in its other side. A buffer disk 43having a hole 44 extending therethrough near its periphery is slidableon the barrel 29 and bears against the shoulder 41 of the enlarged endportion 40.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOLT ASSEMBLY The bolt assembly 22 includes the bolt45 seen most clearly in FIG. 13. The bolt 45 has an end face 46 in whichis set a firing pin 47. An axially extending slot 48 is formed in a sideof the bolt 45 and extends rearward from the face 46 back into the bolt45 for a distance approximately equal to the distance the bolt 45travels from its rearmost position in FIG. 5 to its forwardmost positionin FIG. 9.

The bolt 45 further includes three recesses 49 formed in its undersidein which are set hooks 50 pivotally mounted on pins 51 and biasedoutwardly by coil springs 52. The hooks 50 serve as cartridge feedingmeans and detent means in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As seen most clearly in- FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, an extractor mechanism 53 ispivotally mounted by means of a pin 54 in a slotted recess 55 formednear the front of the bolt 45. The extractor 53 is biased in thecounterclockwise direction by means of a coil spring 56. The extractor53 has a hooked end 57 which is adapted to grasp a rim R of a cartridgeC and hold it against the face 46 of the bolt 45, as seen in FIG. 9, tobe extracted and then ejected as will be hereinafter described.

The bolt 45 also carries a crossarm 58 comprising two radial extensions59 each formed with a tapped hole 60 extending axially therethrough. Thecrossarm 58 provides means by which the bolt 45 is connected to theforward portion of the bolt assembly 22 shown most clearly in FIG. 4.

The forward portion of the bolt assembly 22 overlays the barrel 29 andis slidable thereon. It includes a recoil weight 61 having an annularshoulder 62 formed in its front end and two elongated connecting rods 63extending axially from its other end. The connecting rods 63 arethreaded at their ends 64 for threaded engagement with the tapped holes60 of the crossarm 58. The connecting rods 63 extend completely throughthe weight 61 and are retained by means of nuts 65 which fit intorecesses 66 in the weight 61. An internally threaded lock ring 67 fitson an externally threaded extension 68 of the weight 61.

The weight 61 also includes a pin 69 extending rearwardly therefrom andhaving a radial notch 70 formed therein. The pin 69 is adapted to passthrough the hole 44 in the buffer disk 43 and is part of a safetymechanism to be hereinafter described.

The entire bolt assembly 22 is biased forward by means of a main spring71 which encircles the weight 61 and is retained at one end by theshoulder 62 and at the other end by the buffer disk 43.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVER ASSEMBLY The receiver assembly 23 as seenmost clearly in FIG. 12 includes a receiver body 72 and a tail tube 73extending rearwardly therefrom. The entire receiver assembly 23 isencased in a main body tube 74 shown most clearly in FIG. 3.

The receiver body 72 includes a front end 75 and a rear end 76. Thefront end 75 is formed with an annular projection 77 having bothexternal and internal threads for engagement with the guide tube 34 andthe barrel 29, respectively. Axial slots 78 are formed in the internalsurface of the annular projection 77 to slidingly receive the connectingrods 63. An axial hole 79 extends through the annular projection 75 andcommunicates with a recess 80 formed in the receiver body 72. The hole79 is aligned with the hole 44 in the buffer disk 43 and also permitspassage of the pin 69 therethrough where its notch 70 may be engaged bya hooked end SI of a safety device 82.

The safety device 82 is carried in a groove 83 formed in the outersurface of the receiver body 72. The safety device 82 includes a flag orprojection 84 that indicates that the safety is oft when in the raisedposition illustrated in FIG. I2. The safety may be placed on" when thebolt assembly 22 is cocked and the pin 69 extends into the recess 80 bydepressing the flag 84 to axially rotate the safety device 82 in thegroove 83 until the hook 81 engages the notch 70 and thus prevents thebolt assembly 22 from moving forward.

The receiver body 72 is formed with an axially extending internalchamber 85 which is communicated with from the exterior of the receiverbody 72 by a loading slot 86, an ejection slot 87, and two crossarmslots 88. As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, an ejector 89 extends radiallythrough the receiver body into the chamber 85. The chamber 85 alsocommunicates axially with the interior of the tail tube 73.

From the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that the bolt 45 willreciprocate through the tail tube 73 and the chamber 85 with its hooks50 extending through an axial slot 73a in the tail tube 73. Moreover,the axial slot 48 formed in the side of the bolt 45 slidably engages theejector 89 and thus permits the bolt 45 to traverse the chamber 85without being obstructed by the protruding ejector 89.

The receiver body 72 further includes a firing button well 90 in whichfiring button 91 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 92. The firingbutton 91 is biased by means of a coil spring 93. As seen in FIG. 8, thefiring button well 90 communicates with the chamber 85 by means of ahole 94 through which a sear or detent portion 95 of the firing button91 may extend to engage the face 46 of the bolt 45. Depression of thefiring button 91 will, of course, raise the sear 95 and permit the bolt45 to come forward under action of the main spring 71.

Access to the firing button 91 is had through an opening 96 formed inthe main body tube 74. The opening 96 includes an axially extendingrecessed portion 97 which cooperates with the opening 96 to provide anoutlet through which expanded cartridges may be ejected.

The main body tube 74 is properly positioned and locked on the receiverassembly 23 by means of a locator latch 98 which snaps into the recessedopening 97. The latch 98 is pivotally mounted in a recess 99 in thereceiver body 72 by means of a pin 100 and is biased outwardly by a coilspring 101.

The receiver assembly 23 also includes a follower group 102 consistingof a follower leaf spring 103 and an auxiliary coil spring 104 whichimparts a bias to the spring 103 by means of a plunger 105. The followerspring 103 extends upwardly through an opening 106 in a ramp 107. Theentire follower group 102 is carried by a semi-circular cover plate 108which fits into the underside of the receiver body 72.

It should thus be apparent that in the assembled condition of thefirearm the opening 96 may be sealed by first turning the flag 84 downuntil the safety 82 is on and then depressing the locator latch 98 androtating the tubes 74 and 38 until the plate 108 comes around under theopening 96. In this position the entire internal mechanism of thefirearm 20 is sealed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CARRIER ASSEMBLY The carrier assembly 24 includes acylindrical carrier 109 having an inner annular wall portion 110 formedwith eight axially extending channels or tubes 11] spacedcircumferentially about the periphery thereof. The annular wall portion110 extends the length of the carrier 109 and terminates in an annularshoulder 112 which is recessed back from the front end of the carrier109. The tubes 11 1 run through the entire annular wall portion 1 10.

The carrier 109 is formed on its outer periphery with three annularflanges 113 spaced axially thereof. The flanges 113 are each formed witha circumferential groove 114.

The carrier 109 further includes axially extending chordal slots 115which communicate from the exterior thereof into each of the tubes 111.Each of the slots 115 is adapted to receive a sawtooth blade 116 whichextend into the tubes 111 and are secured by resilient O-rings 117 whichsnap into the grooves 114 to thus resiliently secure a plurality ofcartridges in the tubes 111 against unintentional sliding movement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACK PLUG ASSEMBLY The back plug assembly as seen inFIGS. 5 and 16 includes a housing 118 having an externally threadedannular projection 119 at its forward end by means of which the backplug assembly 25 is secured to the main body tube 74. A rotator 120 iscarried in the housing 118 by means of a retaining shaft 121 upon whichit is freely rotatable. The rotator 120 carries a spring-biased pin 122extending axially from its forward end which is adapted to engage thecarrier 109 and transmit torque thereto from the back plug assembly 25in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The rotator 120 defines a recess 123 in its rear face in which itreceives a wound flat spring 124 having one end thereof secured theretoby means of a pin 125. The other end of the spring 125 is secured bymeans of another pin 126 to a bushing 127 which is in turn secured tothe shaft 121.

The shaft 121 extends through the rear wall of the housing 118 and issecured in a torque knob 128. The torque knob 128 carries a ratchetbutton 129 in a hole 130. The button 129 is biased outwardly by a coilspring 131. A plurality of relieved holes 132 circularly spaced aroundthe rear face of the housing 118 permit escape of the button 129 toallow rotation of the torque knob 128 in one direction, but retain thebutton 129 to prevent rotation of the torque knob 128 in the oppositedirection.

It should be thus apparent that rotation of the torque knob 128 causesthe spring 124 to wind thus imparting a rotary bias to the rotator 120.Tension on the spring 124 is maintained due to the holes 132 whichretain the button 129 and thus prevent the spring 124 from unwinding.The torque is transmitted from the rotator 120 to the carrier 109 by thepin 122 which engages the surface of one of the tubes 111. The carrier109 is, however, normally prevented from rotating by means of a stop orfeeler 133 which extends from the rear end 76 of the receiver body 72and bears against one of the cartridges C carried by the carrier 109 asseen most clearly in FIG. 11. When, however, the last of the cartridgesC in the tube 111 immediately adjacent the feeler 133 is moved forwardinto the receiver body 72, as will be hereinafter described, the torqueon the carrier 109 is no longer resisted and hence the carrier 109 willbe rotated until the forwardmost cartridge C in the next adjacent tube111 comes into engagement with the feeler 133. This operation willcontinue until all the cartridges in each of the tubes 111 is movedforward into the receiver body 72 and fired. At this point, the operatorwill feel the carrier 109 spin free as the spring 124 unwinds due to thelack of a remaining cartridge to bear against the feeler 133.

OPERATION OF THE FIREARM The firearm 20 is loaded by unscrewing the backplug assembly 25 from the main body tube 74 and inserting a carrierassembly 24 whose tubes 111 each carry three cartridges C. The carrierassembly 24 slides down over the concentric tail tube 73 and bolt whichextend therethrough. The back plug assembly 25 is then screwed back onthe main body tube 74 and torque is applied to the carrier 109 byturning the torque knob 128. Usually, the mere act of screwing on theback plug assembly 25 will provide sufficient torque to rotate thecarrier 109 through a complete cycle. It is understood, of course, thatindividual cartridges C may be inserted into the tubes 111 instead ofreplacing the entire carrier assembly 24.

The fireann 20 is cocked by sliding the cocking tube 38 back along theguide tube 34. The lug 37 slides back in the guide .slot 35 engaging therecoil weight 61 and compressing the main spring 71. The entire boltassembly 22 is thereby moved back until, at the rearward limit of itstravel, the sear drops down against the face 46 of the bolt 45 as seenin FIG. 8. The firearm 20 is then cocked. At this point, the safetydevice 82 may be moved to its on" position as explained above. Anadditional safety is provided by simply rotating the lug 37 of thecocking tube 38 into the recess 36. In either event, the bolt assembly22 is prevented from moving forward under the force of the spring 71.

With both safety devices in their disengaged or of positions, however,depression of the firing button 91 permits the bolt assembly 22 to bemoved forward as the compressed main spring 71 expands. This actioncauses the hooks 50 carried by the bolt 45 to engage the rims R of thethree cartridges C in the lowermost of firing tube 111 and thus movethem forward. The leading cartridge will be fed into the receiver body72 and take the position of the cartridge C in FIG. 9. As the boltassembly 22 is again cocked in the manner described above, the cartridgeC will be pushed up by the follower spring 103 through the loading slot86 into the chamber 85 and assume the position illustrated in FIG. 5.The firearm is now ready to be fired.

Depression of the firing button 91 will now cause the bolt to push thecartridge C up the ramp 107 through the chamber 85 and into the barrel29. The cartridge is now in the position of cartridge C, in FIG. 9 andis fired as the firing pin 47 strikes the rim R. It is understood thatwhile a rimfire type device is specifically disclosed herein, centerfireor other type firing devices may also be used.

It should be understood that as the bolt 45 comes forward to fire thecartridge C the second cartridge in the firing tube 111 will be movedforward by the hooks 50 into the receiver body 72 and assume theposition of cartridge C, in FIG. 9. The third cartridge C issimultaneously moved forward to engage the feeler 133 and thus preventrotation of the carrier 109 as explained above.

As the cartridge C, is fired, the expanding gases will cause the boltassembly 22 to blowback or recoil in a conventional manner well known inthe art. Inasmuch as the hooked end 57 of the extractor 53 holds the rimR of the cartridge C, against the face 46 of the bolt 45, the expendedcase X of the cartridge C, and the bolt 45 will be pushed rearward as aunit under the force of the expanding gases. When the rim R of theexpended case X strikes the ejector 89 as shown in FIG. 10, it will beflipped up through the ejection slot 87 and opening 96 in the body tube74 and thereby ejected from the firearm 20.

When the last of the cartridges C in a given tube 111 has been movedforward into the receiver body 72, the carrier 109 will be rotated untilthe next adjacent tube 111 containing cartridges C comes into firingposition beneath the hooks 50 as explained above. It should be apparentthat the firearm 20 may be fired automatically by holding the firingbutton 91 down while the bolt assembly 22 reciprocates under the actionof the main spring 71 and blowback forces to fire a desired number ofrounds. It is contemplated that a suitable mechanism may be providedwhich would facilitate single fire repeat or automatic operation.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the firearm 20 has beendisclosed herein, it is to be understood that other modifications may beprovided without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A firearm comprising a tubular housing having at least oneselectively configured radial opening, said tubular housing containing abarrel,

a cartridge carrier,

a receiver assembly including a receiver body having a selectivelyconfigured radial opening, a cylindrical portion selectively configuredso as to be at least as large as said tubular housing radial opening anda trigger element accessible through said receiver body opening, and

means for displacing said receiver assembly relative to said tubularhousing from a first position wherein said tubular housing opening andsaid receiver body opening are radially adjacent whereby said triggerelement can be actuated to a second position wherein said receiver bodycylindrical portion blocks said tubular housing opening whereby saidtrigger element cannot be actuated.

2. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein said receiver body furthercomprises safety device means including a finger operable memberdisplaceable from a first, off, position wherein said finger operablemember extends radially outwardly a predetermined distance substantiallygreater than the radius of the interior surface of said tubular housingto a second, on, position wherein said finger operable member extendsradially outwardly a predetermined distance less than said radius andselectively located and configured so that when said receiver assemblyis located at said first position said finger operable member can bedisplaced into said radially adjacent openings whereby the firearm maybe fired and when said receiver assembly is located at said secondposition said finger operable member will be maintained in said onposition.

3. A firearm according to claim 1 wherein said receiver body furthercomprises latch means displaceable from a first position wherein saidlatch means extends radially outwardly a predetermined distancesubstantially greater than the radius of the interior surface of saidtubular housing to a second position wherein said latch means extendsradially outwardly a predetermined distance less than said radius,

said latch means being selectively located and configured so that whensaid receiver assembly is located at said first position and said latchmeans is displaced from said second position to said first position saidlatch means will extend into said tubular portion opening therebymaintaining said receiver assembly at said second position and means forurging the displacement of said latch means from said second position tosaid first position.

4. A firearm comprising a substantially tubular housing containing asingle barrel a cartridge carrier including a plurality of axiallyextending circumferentially spaced cartridge tubes and a central axiallyextending bore,

a receiver interposed intermediate said barrel and said cartridgecarrier,

a bolt assembly including a firing pin and a bolt selectively configuredfor slidable displacement within said bore from a first, forward,position whereat said firing pin is axially adjacent said barrel to asecond, rearward, position whereat said firing pin is spaced therefrom,said bolt having a firing pin secured to the forward end thereof,

means for displacing said bolt from said first position to said secondposition and for subjecting said bolt to a predetermined force, and

means for releasing said cocked bolt whereby said firing pin will strikeand fire a bullet which has been inserted into the rearward end of saidbarrel,

said bolt assembly comprising means for sequentially feeding cartridgesfrom said tubes to said receiver and for inserting said cartridges intothe rearward end of said barrel.

5. A firearm according to claim 4, wherein said bolt assembly furthercomprises an annular recoil mass concentrically overlying said barreland integrally connected to said bolt and adapted to be slidablydisplaced along said barrel and said subjecting means includes a springconcentrically surrounding said barrel and interposed intermediate saidannular recoil mass and said receiver.

6. A firearm according to claim 5, wherein said annular recoil massincludes a rearwardly axially extending hook means and said firearmfurther comprises finger operable safety means displaceable forselective engagement with said hook means.

7. A firearm according to claim 4 wherein each of said tubes includes aplurality of cartridges and said sequentially feeding means comprisesmeans for consecutively feeding all of the cartridges in one of saidcircumferentially spaced tubes to said receiver and means for rotatingsaid cartridge carrier a selected degree after 8. A firearm according toclaim 4 wherein said cartridge feeding means includes a plurality ofaligned outwardly biased hook elements for engaging cartridges in saidcarrier.

9. A firearm according to claim 4 wherein said carrier provides detentmeans limiting axial movement of cartridges to a direction towards saidreceiver. said one tube has been emptied whereby all of the cartridgesin a second one of said tubes may be consecutively fed to said receiver.

10. A firearm comprising a tubular housing containing an axiallyextending receiver,

an axially extending barrel, and an axially extending cartridge carrierdisposed axially adjacent opposite ends of said receiver, said cartridgecarrier containing a plurality of cartridges, and

a bolt assembly mounted for axial movement,

said bolt assembly including an annular recoil mass having an interiordiameter selected so that said recoil mass can be slidably displacedalong said barrel and having an exterior diameter substantially lessthan the interior diameter of said tubular housing adjacent said recoilmass along its path of movement whereby an annular channel will beestablished selectively dimensioned to receive a spring, and

spring means for placement within said annular channel said recoil massincluding an outwardly projecting shoulder at the forward end thereofand said spring means being selectively interposed intermediate saidshoulder and said receiver.

1. A firearm comprising a tubular housing having at least oneselectively configured radial opening, said tubular housing containing abarrel, a cartridge carrier, a receiver assembly including a receiverbody having a selectively configured radial opening, a cylindricalportion selectively configured so as to be at least as large as saidtubular housing radial opening and a trigger element accessible throughsaid receiver body opening, and means for displacing said receiverassembly relative to said tubular housing from a first position whereinsaid tubular housing opening and said receiver body opening are radiallyadjacent whereby said trigger element can be actuated to a secondposition wherein said receiver body cylindrical portion blocks saidtubular housing opening whereby said trigger element cannot be actuated.2. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein said receiver body furthercomprises safety device means including a finger operable memberdisplaceable from a first, off, position wherein said finger operablemember extends radially outwardly a predetermined distance substantiallygreater than the radius of the interior surface of said tubular housingto a second, on, position wherein said finger operable member extendsradially outwardly a predetermined distance less than said radius andselectively located and configured so that when said receiver assemblyis located at said first position said finger operable member can bedisplaced into said radially adjacent openings whereby the firearm maybe fired and when said receiver assembly is located at said secondposition said finger operable member will be maintained in said onposition.
 3. A firearm according to claim 1 wherein said receiver bodyfurther comprises latch means displaceable from a first position whereinsaid latch means extends radially outwardly a predetermined distancesubstantially greater than the radius of the interior surface of saidtubular housing to a second position wherein said latch means extendsradially outwardly a predetermined distance less than said radius, saidlatch means being selectively located and configured so that when saidreceiver assembly is located at said first position and said latch meansis displaced from said second position to said first position said latchmeans will extend into said tubular portion opening thereby maintainingsaid receiver assembly at said second position and means for urging thedisplacement of said latch means from said second position to said firstposition.
 4. A firearm comprising a substantially tubular housingcontaining a single barrel a cartridge carrier including a plurality ofaxially extending circumferentially spaced cartridge tubes and a centralaxially extending bore, a receiver interposed intermediate said barreland said cartridge carrier, a bolt assembly including a firing pin and abolt selectively configured for slidable displacement within said borefrom a first, forward, position whereat said firing pin is axiallyadjacent said barrel to a second, rearward, position whereat said firingpin is spaced therefrom, said bolt having a firing pin secured to theforward end thereof, means for displacing said bolt from said firstposition to said second position and for subjecting said bolt to apredetermined force, and means for releasing said cocked bolt wherebysaid firing pin will strike and fire a bullet which has been insertedinto the rearward end of said barrel, said bolt assembly comprisingmeans for sequentially feeding cartridges from said tubes to saidreceiver and for inserting said cartridges into the rearward end of saidbarrel.
 5. A firearm according to claim 4, wherein said bolt assemblyfurther comprises an annular recoil mass concentrically overlying saidbarrel and integrally connected to said Bolt and adapted to be slidablydisplaced along said barrel and said subjecting means includes a springconcentrically surrounding said barrel and interposed intermediate saidannular recoil mass and said receiver.
 6. A firearm according to claim5, wherein said annular recoil mass includes a rearwardly axiallyextending hook means and said firearm further comprises finger operablesafety means displaceable for selective engagement with said hook means.7. A firearm according to claim 4 wherein each of said tubes includes aplurality of cartridges and said sequentially feeding means comprisesmeans for consecutively feeding all of the cartridges in one of saidcircumferentially spaced tubes to said receiver and means for rotatingsaid cartridge carrier a selected degree after said one tube has beenemptied whereby all of the cartridges in a second one of said tubes maybe consecutively fed to said receiver.
 8. A firearm according to claim 4wherein said cartridge feeding means includes a plurality of alignedoutwardly biased hook elements for engaging cartridges in said carrier.9. A firearm according to claim 4 wherein said carrier provides detentmeans limiting axial movement of cartridges to a direction towards saidreceiver.
 10. A firearm comprising a tubular housing containing anaxially extending receiver, an axially extending barrel, and an axiallyextending cartridge carrier disposed axially adjacent opposite ends ofsaid receiver, said cartridge carrier containing a plurality ofcartridges, and a bolt assembly mounted for axial movement, said boltassembly including an annular recoil mass having an interior diameterselected so that said recoil mass can be slidably displaced along saidbarrel and having an exterior diameter substantially less than theinterior diameter of said tubular housing adjacent said recoil massalong its path of movement whereby an annular channel will beestablished selectively dimensioned to receive a spring, and springmeans for placement within said annular channel said recoil massincluding an outwardly projecting shoulder at the forward end thereofand said spring means being selectively interposed intermediate saidshoulder and said receiver.